Hello everyone! Christmas Baking is over for the time being and I am quite happy with the results; there is a lovely variety of old and new favourites and I am excited about putting my gift boxes together for our friends and family. I still have a dessert to bake for Christmas Eve which we usually enjoy at my brother’s house (it will likely be a bûche de noël because that is what my family has done for years, and I just saw Charles’ at Five Euro Food which made me very excited to make it again!).
Here is a little synopsis of my Christmas baking over the years (not that I only started in 2007, but that is when I started to blog!).
In 2007 we had our Renovation party so I didn’t specifically do the cookie gift boxes because we hosted about 50 friends and family at our renovation unveiling party and I catered the entire event (I had serving help which was great!).
I designed these invitations for our Renovation Unveiling Party in 2007
In 2008 I made 11 items but I didn’t take a photo of them 
In 2009 I made only 9 items but I bought lovely ceramic casserole dishes to package the cookies in as gifts.
In 2010 JT had a health setback and I just didn’t do much baking at all (he’s ALL GOOD now).
And here we are in 2011 and my list of cookies with links are:
- Mexican Spiced Macaroons
- Chocolate Crinkle Kisses
- Butterscotchy Almond Bars
- Anzac Biscuits
- Bargain Basement Barb’s Amazing Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Bars
- Ginger Snaps
- Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cookies (I am going to bake these for JTs brother-in-law and his dad who are hypoglycemic and diabetic; it’s not required until Christmas Day, so I have a bit more time to do the baking!)
I was able to find these really cute cookie boxes at the dollar store! I line them with parchment paper.
Holy Bat Man, that's a lot of cookies!
I package each cookie box in a zip-lock bag and freeze it until we see the people that I prepared it for!
Your cookie box is ready, when can you come over to pick them up?
I wanted to mention some of my blogging friends cookie recipes which I am certain are equally, if not better tasting then my own.
Katherine at Rufus’ Food and Spirits Guide has mastered the perfect Macaroon. And check out Ann’s Cooking Healthy for Me Coconut Macaroons that she baked from her well loved Better Home New Cook Book. And then of course, there is Barb’s Coconut Pyramids at Profiteroles and Ponytails which are just so darn adorable. And pop by Jessica’s site Kitchenbelleicious for a truly lovely Espresso Crinkle Cookie that just looks like it would melt in your mouth. And then there is fellow Torontonian Divya at Flavour Fiesta’s healthier Choc Coco Truffles with Cherries. There are so many great cookie recipes out there and so little time to try them all — that’s why I love reading all the wonderful blogs, I can try ALL of your cookies in a virtual sense and not gain an ounce! The beauty of technology.
How many cookies did you bake this year, and did you bake any special needs cookies?
Those packages look so nice! Thanks for the shout out too! I can’t wait to make Jessica’s espresso cookie. Great round up.
Thanks Katherine, the shout out was my pleasure. I’m going to make Jessica’s espresso cookies too as soon as we run out of the Christmas cookies (I always have a few of each type left over!).
I love the boxes, Eva — I’m going to have to stop by the dollar store: I’ve had my eye out for cookie-wrapping possibilities (We usually use tins, but they can be expensive when you are giving several kinds of cookies). I’ll have to check out those espresso crinkles, too. Thanks.
Thanks Sharyn,these boxes were very economical, 50¢ each!
My dollar store did not have anything as nice as this, but they did have plain red rectangular tins suitable for mailing, so I got a few of those. Thanks for the tip.
These were perfect for my purposes, Sharyn. And the price was right too!
Wonderful gift boxes and packages to give and I’m sure a great treat to receive.
Thanks Maria. It helps put me in the festive spirit!
Oh, sorry. What did I bake? I’m not done yet, but I’ve made cocoa shortbread, pfefferneusse, Smitten Kitchen’s maple-nutmeg sugar cookies, Russian tea cakes. I’m on my second batch of three of the above today. I still have to make Moravian ginger thins. My Mom made dream bars (a brown sugar-coconut-nut cookie — we make them in two versions because one of our guests has a walnut allergy, so we make hers with almonds and call them “Margit cookies” after her). I made walnut fudge, too. Then, on a baking contract, I made four loaves of Finnish Cardamom bread and five loaves of pumpkin-walnut-raisin bread (two with dried cranberries instead of raisins). Another batch of shortbread and tea cakes and I’ll be in the home stretch until after Christmas.
Wow, Sharyn! That’s a lot of baking; you have very fortunate friends!
Wow, Eva! What lovely — and delicious! — gifts to give your friends! Alas, I’m not much of a cookie baker so this year, like all others, I rely on the kindness of others for my cookies. I’ll be giving them gift baskets of some homemade things in return.
If we were neighbours John you would be in my list! I bet your gift baskets are a much sought after prize!
Eva, you have a knack for finding great boxes…..and baking great cookies of course! It looks like 2011 was another successful year, which I’m sure will be reflected in the oohs and aahs of your cookie recipients. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Oh yes, and thanks for the note about my coconut pyramids….I’ll have to be sure to put two in your box this year so that you don’t have to hide them on JT!
Yes please! Thanks Barb!
Eva – Everything looks amazing and your packaging this year is so bright and cheerful! Thank you for sharing your baking season with us…..
Thank you Ann! It’s been fun and it gets me into the festivities!
Love the cookie boxes you bought…..but cookies are better
)
Thanks Angie, they are cute!
Okay, once again you are sooooo sweet to include my cookies in your recap! THANK YOU! They are absolutely delish but from the photos above I am wishing I was the recipient of all your fabulous goodies! YUM!
Oh and I love the gift boxes- yeah for the dollar store
Thanks Jessica, but it was a no brainier, espresso cookies? Come on! I’m not a huge fan of the surrender to products from China, but there are some things that are not worth getting north American!
Such cute little gift boxes! Suppose you wouldn’t consider mailing one to France?
Hmmm, Charles do you think customs would let it through?
Hehe, I guess as long as it doesn’t smell like there’s a brick of cocaine in there or something it’s probably fine
Thank goodness it’s not illegal to post a sugar high!
Ah… I’ve said it once but happy to say it again, I wish I was your neighbour
Gorgeous roundup of cookies Eva and thank you for providing the links in one convenient spot. You must feel so good at this stage with still one week till Christmas and you’re so organized!
Thank you Kelly, I would love to be your neighbour too! I feel like I’ve finished just in the nick of time.
Thanks for the mention, Eva!
I am loving your roundup of holiday baking recipes. I haven’t even started my actual cookie baking sessions yet – this is a great resource for ideas! And oh yes, loved your tip about hiring help for the holiday parties. I may consider that…
By the way, did you get the cookie boxes from Dollarama? I couldn’t find it at the one on Spadina (which is closest to where I live..)
Hi Divya, I got the boxes at Dollarama, but the one on St. Clair west by the Walmart — it’s rather new. I would have thought they all carry the same thing. I met our helper lady at a private party that was catered, but I bet your local waiter/waitress might be able to reco someone! We used Stacey for the last seven years; sadly she no longer does this type of work.
I love your holiday recipes Eva! And I’m super impressed that you’re done already. We haven’t started our cookies yet, but I hope to this week.
With three helpers Kristy, I’m sure you’ll be done in no time!
Great collection of cookie recipes. Can anyone drop on by and pick up a box of your tasty cookie? If so we’re on our way.
Thank you Jed. It’s a long trip for just one box, why don’t you come for dinner too!
So adorable!!! I love those boxes. I am so impressed with your baking. Happy Holidays.
Thank you kindly, Dara. That is indeed a high compliment from a cookbook writer! I am very flattered.